SCOLOPACIDR. 385 
The food of the Summer Snipe consists of worms 
and aquatic insects. Meyer says the insects are 
chiefly flies, gnats and water spiders, but rarely 
snails, if ever so small: perhaps the similarity of 
food may occasion the animosity of the Pied Wag- 
tails, as I have seen them occasionally bully a 
Swallow in the same way, but not so determinedly. 
Much has been written in different publications 
on the power of swimming of the Sandpipers. That 
all the birds included in the order Grallatores can 
swim, and swim well if compelled to do so, I have 
no doubt: the Green Sandpiper and the present 
species I have seen both swim and dive, but only 
when wounded; the Curlew when pushed into the 
water by its companions; a wounded Whimbrel I 
have seen swim along way; the Purre also I have 
occasionally seen swim when wounded, and also if 
caught by the waves when it has incautiously 
approached too near them in its search for food, but 
the greatest use it has then made of its swimming 
has been to get back to land as quickly as possible; 
but with a few exceptions, such as the Moorhen and 
the Phalaropes, and perhaps the tame Heron before 
mentioned, I have never been able satisfactorily to 
ascertain that any of the birds belonging to this 
order voluntarily take to the water for the purpose 
either of obtaining food or of amusement. 
“In plumage and general appearance the Summer 
Snipe is a very pretty neat-looking bird. The beak 
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